Libya has been confirmed by the World Health Organization (WHO) to have eliminated trachoma as a public health problem. This declaration positions Libya as the 28th country globally and the eighth in the WHO's Eastern Mediterranean Region to achieve this status.
The milestone follows decades of control efforts and a targeted elimination program, implemented despite significant national challenges.
Official Confirmation and Recognition
The confirmation by the WHO was announced following national efforts to reduce the prevalence of the disease. Haidar Al-Sa’eh, Director of Libya's National Center for Disease Control, also publicized the achievement.
Dr. Mohamed Al-Ghoj, Libya's Acting Minister of Health, acknowledged the crucial role of health workers and communities in focusing on improving eye health services. WHO officials, including Dr. Ahmed Zouiten, WHO Representative in Libya, Dr. Hanan Balkhy, the WHO Regional Director, and Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, recognized the significance of Libya's progress.
Decades of Effort: Libya's Elimination Journey
Trachoma has been documented in Libya for over a century, with high infection rates reported in the southern regions during the 20th century. Initial control efforts by the Ministry of Health in the 1970s and 1980s contributed to a reduction in transmission.
In 2017, the Ministry of Health initiated a national trachoma elimination program as part of its National Prevention of Blindness Programme. This initiative received support from the WHO, Sightsavers, the International Trachoma Initiative, and Tropical Data.
In 2022, surveys conducted across six southern districts where the disease was suspected to persist indicated that active trachoma and trichiasis prevalences were below WHO elimination thresholds. An exception was noted for trichiasis in the Wadi Al Hayaa/Ghat area. A subsequent surgical campaign was conducted to address these remaining cases. A follow-up survey in 2025 confirmed that the prevalence of trichiasis in this area also fell below the threshold required for elimination.
Overcoming Significant National Challenges
Libya's achievement of trachoma elimination occurred amid years of political instability and humanitarian challenges. These circumstances impacted national health services, resulted in population displacement, and increased demand for basic services such as water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH).
The national trachoma elimination program integrated surveillance, expanded access to surgical care, developed capacity among eye health workers, and involved collaboration with national and international stakeholders.
Understanding Trachoma: The Disease and its Impact
Trachoma is a bacterial infection of the eye caused by Chlamydia trachomatis. It is transmitted through contact with infected eye discharge, which can be spread via hands, clothing, or flies.
Repeated infections can lead to scarring of the inner eyelid, a condition known as trichiasis, where eyelashes turn inward and rub against the eye. If left untreated, trichiasis can result in irreversible blindness.
Trachoma is recognized as the world's leading infectious cause of blindness and typically affects impoverished communities with inadequate hygiene and limited access to water and sanitation. Antibiotics, such as Azithromycin, are used for treatment.
Broader Public Health Context
Trachoma is one of 21 neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) that collectively affect approximately one billion people globally, primarily in tropical regions. The WHO established the Alliance for the Global Elimination of Trachoma by 2020 (GET2020) in 1996 to support countries in their elimination efforts.
Libya is the 59th country globally and the 10th in the Eastern Mediterranean Region to have eliminated at least one NTD.